The development of trust between researchers and the participants is a great advantage which is created by the researcher being directly involved with the studied group. This enables the researcher to build a strong relationship in which participants would feel more comfortable to reveal the feelings and aspects of their social world (Hall 2003). This strong relationship is, according to Cloke et al. (2010), useful when undertaking a research study with vulnerable groups, such as homeless people, as they are more likely to distrust. Some marginalised group would feel reluctant to talk to the researcher as they would see him as a stranger or outsider. However if the researcher is ‘one of them’ they may feel more comfortable to open up and share
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However, this can be overcome by focusing on a smaller group (Ilan 2013) or on one place (Perry 2013). With the closed groups, the researcher needs to gain the access through the informal gatekeepers within the organisation that they want to study. This is usually management or senior executives within the institution. The role of a gatekeeper is very important as it protects settings and participants (Berg 2004). However, in the case of conducting a covert ethnographic research the researcher does not need to seek permission to gain an access to the group as the group itself does not know about the study (Bryman 2012). On the other hand, it raises ethic …show more content…
The ethnographer has to consider the ethical issues, which involves harm to himself as the ethnography often involves working with a dangerous and problematic population in dangerous situations and in secluded locations (Briggs 2010). The risk of harm to the researcher needs to be considered as the victimisation amongst the homeless people is thirteen times greater than amongst the general public (Crisis 2016). Harm to participants themselves is also a great concern while conducting the ethnography, especially with overt research in a case of the researcher being revealed by the researched group. There is also a possibility of the researcher being arrested while conducting the study, which needs to be considered (Ferrell and Hamm
However, this can be overcome by focusing on a smaller group (Ilan 2013) or on one place (Perry 2013). With the closed groups, the researcher needs to gain the access through the informal gatekeepers within the organisation that they want to study. This is usually management or senior executives within the institution. The role of a gatekeeper is very important as it protects settings and participants (Berg 2004). However, in the case of conducting a covert ethnographic research the researcher does not need to seek permission to gain an access to the group as the group itself does not know about the study (Bryman 2012). On the other hand, it raises ethic …show more content…
The ethnographer has to consider the ethical issues, which involves harm to himself as the ethnography often involves working with a dangerous and problematic population in dangerous situations and in secluded locations (Briggs 2010). The risk of harm to the researcher needs to be considered as the victimisation amongst the homeless people is thirteen times greater than amongst the general public (Crisis 2016). Harm to participants themselves is also a great concern while conducting the ethnography, especially with overt research in a case of the researcher being revealed by the researched group. There is also a possibility of the researcher being arrested while conducting the study, which needs to be considered (Ferrell and Hamm